Russellville running back/linebacker Brent Calloway says he's headed to Alabama, where he expects to play on defense. (The Birmingham News/ Tamika Moore)

This is the 10th installment of a 12-part countdown of the high school seniors judged by The Birmingham News and re­cruiters as the best football players in the state for the Class of 2011.

RUSSELLVILLE -- Whenever Brent Calloway gets a few spare moments between football and homework, he's drawn to his computer.

He knows better, yet he signs on to Facebook and prepares for the onslaught of comments and contradictions.

Like the freshman from a rival high school, who wants to dog him about his choice of a college, Alabama. Or the middle-age Crimson Tide fans who welcome him to the family in instant messages popping up on his screen.

"There were these two older guys who were arguing hardcore on my (Facebook) wall about Alabama and Auburn," Calloway said, "I had one little kid who argued with me in a chat for an hour. He said he didn't know how I could be ranked a five-star prospect, I was terrible."

Somehow his cell number kept showing up on the Internet. Text messaging from strangers became such a hassle he stopped buying minutes for his phone, opting to forgo that teenage ritual of communication altogether.

Such is the life of a 17-year-old blue-chip college football prospect.

Rivals.com ranks the 6-foot-1, 212-pound Russellville High two-way star as the No. 1 prospect in the state and the nation's 12th-ranked senior.

Calloway checks in on The Birmingham News Super Seniors' list at No. 3.

Although he committed to Alabama before the start of his junior season, offers continue to pour in. To be honest, he lost count months ago, but rival suitors include Auburn, Southern Cal, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

He considers his commitment solid but will still probably take some official visits -- hey, Lane Kiffin, he isn't leaving home but he would like a paid trip to Los Angeles -- which might light up his Facebook some more.

Russellville coach Doug Goodwin understands the nationwide interest, having seen Calloway on a daily basis the last two seasons.

"Athletically, he's as good as any player I've had," Goodwin said. "He's tall, with long limbs. He runs extremely fast. And he can jump like a kangaroo."

Goodwin tries to utilize Calloway all over the field. At linebacker, where he's projected to play at Alabama, and at tailback, where he has rushed for nearly 3,000 yards the past two seasons while sharing time at the position.

"Auburn coaches told me they think he's the best running back in the country," Goodwin said. "Alabama and USC like him at outside linebacker. There are a lot of schools who wouldn't care where he plays. They're recruiting him as an athlete.

"Truthfully, he could play any skill position, except, maybe, quarterback."

Goodwin hasn't been that tempted yet. But there is a halfback pass in the playbook.

"We haven't run it yet, but he can throw it 60 yards, Goodwin said. "We just don't know where it's going."

Goodwin remembers the first time Calloway made him go "aah." It was midway through his sophomore season, when Russellville's starting tailback went down with an ACL tear and Calloway made his first start on offense.

Goodwin's youngest son, Devin, a minor-league baseball player in the St. Louis Cardinals system, was helping on the sideline when Calloway got the first call from scrimmage.

"The first play of the game, he took a toss and ran 78 yards for a touchdown," Doug Goodwin said. "Devin came up and said, ‘Yeah, Dad, I think he's going to be pretty good.'"

Calloway decided on Alabama early. After all, Alabama was the first school to show interest, the first to offer, the first to invite him to camp.

Alabama also has promised him the chance to play early, if he earns the right.

"I really don't care where I play. I don't care if I'm getting hit or doing the hitting," Calloway said.

"But they're a little thin at outside linebacker. If I'm ready, I'll get to play early."

BRENT CALLOWAY

Super Seniors ranking: No. 3

Position: Running back/linebacker

School: Russellville

Height/Weight: 6-1/212

College choice: Committed to Alabama. Offers include Auburn, Southern Cal, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Stat parade: As a running back, Calloway rushed for more than 2,900 yards and 45 touchdowns the past two seasons. On defense, he recorded close to 100 tackles and 22 quarterback sacks as a junior.

Did you know: Calloway writes music and loves to sing in his spare time. What spare time? Calloway also plays on the basketball team, competes on the track and field team and plans to go out for baseball. A left-handed pitcher, Calloway claims he can throw 92 mph but doesn't quite know where his pitch is going.

Quotable: The attention has gotten to be somewhat of a distraction to him and he's having to learn to deal with that. I've told him that he has to keep his mind and body in the same place. He's not playing college football yet." -- Russellville coach Doug Goodwin